Agreements have now been reached with the bus industry to run services on the three routes through the city.

These agreements have led to bus operators coming forward to offer to provide services.

As things currently stand the MetroBus routes from Ashton Vale to Temple Meads (which will replace existing Park and Ride) will be running from September, Cribbs Causeway to Hengrove will start running from November and the Ashton Vale to Hengorve route -along the South Bristol Link Road - is scheduled for "autumn".

He says: “We have been very close to the Metrobus project throughout its development.

“We are one of two operators showing an interest in operating it and we’re working hard to create a set up that will allow us to be one of the chosen operators. We should find out for certain at the end of April.

“Metrobus is going to need to integrate well with our existing network, so it makes absolute sense for First Bus to be directly involved in its operation.”